Dallas City Wire

Basketball Returns to Conference Action Friday at UAFS

COUNTDOWN TO TIP-OFF
Following a 12-day layoff, the DBU Men's Basketball team returns to the hardwood on Friday night in Fort Smith, Arkansas. The Patriots saw their season-high seven-game win streak come to a halt last time out when they dropped a 73-63 decision on the road to Eastern New Mexico on December 17.

DBU continues their season-long four-game road trip on Friday at UAFS. Both the Lions and Patriots are in the East Division of the Lone Star Conference. DBU is playing their first divisional foe this season, while UAFS is 1-0 versus divisional opponents after a win over Oklahoma Christian on December 19.

PATRIOT STORYLINES
- DBU is out to a 3-1 start in conference play with wins over Midwestern State, Cameron, and Western New Mexico. The Patriots' lone loss came against Eastern New Mexico.
- The Patriots rank sixth in the LSC in scoring, averaging 73.8 points per game through their first 12 games.
- Entering Friday's game at UAFS, the Patriots are second in the LSC in field goal percentage (.470) and third in three-point shooting (.362).
- DBU is averaging a league-best 9.2 three-pointers per game.
- Three Patriots are averaging double figures in scoring including Cameron Kahn (12.2 ppg), Ricky Lujan (12.0 ppg), and Ta'Jay Dunlap (10.1 ppg).
- In DBU's last two games, Jalen White is shooting an astounding .867 from three-point range, having connected on 13-of-15 shots from beyond the arc.
- Ta'Jay Dunlap ranks No. 10 in the nation in steals (28) and his 2.55 steals per game is the 12th-highest average in the country.
- The Patriots 4.6 turnover margin is 18th-best in the nation and their 17.8 turnovers forced per game ranks No. 20 in the country.

SCOUTING UAFS
- After enduring a three-game losing streak with losses to West Texas A&M, Lubbock Christian, and Angelo State, the Lions have won their last two games over UTPB and Oklahoma Christian.
- UAFS is averaging a league-low 66.6 ppg. Defensively, UAFs ranks 10th in the LSC, allowing 67.0 ppg.
- The Lions are led by the league's top scorer, Payton Brown, a redshirt freshman guard who is averaging 20.6 ppg.
- Brown also leads the LSC in three-point field goals per game (2.9).
- Jaxon Ingram is the team's leading rebounder and ranks 17th in the LSC, averaging 5.3 rebounds per game.
- Cameron Bush's 3.2 assists per game is 10th-best in the LSC. 

Original source can be found here